To this day Gunga Din is probably one of the best screen depictions of the Victorian era British military in India. If not inhistorical accuracy but certainly in character realization, shooting location (the Sierra Nevada mountains in California doublingfor India's North West Frontier) dialog and story line, the last of which still stands the test of time against much more recentfilms.

As mentioned elsewhere in this web site Victor McLaglen served in the British army during the Anglo-Boer War for a short timebefore being discharged at the request of his father for being under age. He also served in the Middle East during World WarOne becoming Provost Marshall for the area around the city of Baghdad.